Molding apparatus having continuous belt-type printing mechanism



J. S. TRUESDELL MOLDING APPARATUS HAVING CONTINUOUS May 25, 1954BELT-TYPE PRINTING-MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 12, 1952INVENTOR Jkn J fluesdell ATTORNEY May 25, 1954 Filed June 12, 1952 J. S.MOLDING APPARA TRUESDELL TUS HAVING CONTINUOUS BELT-TYPEPRINTING-MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR' J07??? 4S fiaesdell BY 1%WATTORNEY Patented May 25, 1954 MOLDING i APPARATUS HAVING CONTINU OUSBELTeTYPE PRINTING'MECHKNISM John s. Truesdell, Los Angeles, -Calif.

Application June 12,1952, Serial No. 293,179" (cram-s) 4 Claims; 1

This invention has speciaL referenceto printing apparatus for producingcavitiesin the beds provided in mold trays of the. type employed inthemanufacture of articles ofconfection.

In candy manufacture, it: is customary, in the molding of candy bodiesto provide apparatus in.--v eluding open-topped trayspontaining-rabed ofstarch, or other impression-receiving powderedor pulverulentamaterialwSuch. trays are .brought into registry withmovablel dies whichenter theimpressionable bed-.of material in each tray to' produce thereinisocketsor cavities adapted for the reception of. fluid bodymaterials from whichconfections-are made; The cavities are of different shapesso that thebody material, .upon

cooling or solidifying therein, will take the physical formiof thecavities;

Machines for producing ,the cavities the molding material are known as"mold printers; Hitherto most of these printers have operated on" the.intermittent principle; that is,:the'itrays are advanced along aconfined guidewayglongitudi nally into vertical registry'with theprinting dies. When in such registry transitional movement of? the traysis interrupted, so that the dies'may be" forced into the bed ofimpressionable"material contained in astatio'nary tray "in-producing thecandy-forming cavities therein.

Ithas also been proposedf'as discldsedinmy prior copending: application,Serial" "Not" 257,043, fil'd" November 19, 195 1; to providecontinuously operating, printers in which the'cavity forming" dies arecarried by 'an'endlesschainpr belt means" mounted in a machine frameabove'the horizontal and longitudinal plane of advance of the-starch=-filled trays, cooperative means being provided-fo'r eifecting relativelyuniform tr'ansitional movementina common-longitudinal direction on the11 part of the trays and the die-carryingbeltmeans;

so-"that While 7 the -=dies and trays" are moving mentcauses the dies toenter the bed ofpowdere'd receiv'ing cavities in" saidpowderedrnaterial.

While such a '-continuously'- operating printer i is 'able' to produceagiven-number of 'finished molds at a higher rate of speed than theintermittentrtype-of: printer, nevertheless the continuous::pr.inter::hasnot been: altogether:satisfactory;' Inrparn'aatileast, th-is-isiattributableato itheinnattter-iv longitudinally in unison witheachotlier, thedies carried-- bythe' belt' means it may beaddition'ally'moved vertically orperpendicularly*tothe plane of travel of the trays.This perpendicular move of" providing app aratus which; will function ina smooth, uniform, non-vibratory and shock-avoid ing manner; It will beundersto'od that shock 'and" vibrationfin'a machine of this kindare-undesir I able, since the samea interferes' with the: opera-.-:

tion'of the printer in its ability to" produce sharply and definitelydefined cavities in the starch'or" other: powdered :material comprisingthe cavity-'-' receiving bed of'a molding tray.-

It' is, therefore, a primary'object of the present I inventionto providea continuous mold-printing" ma 'chine" in which dies are "carried-"an-endless belt and wherein improved means;,are'iprovided" forefiecting without. Zjalfi or f'vibrationivertical movement of the dieswhile traveling. into and out of. engagement with-the; impressionablebedslof" molding trays.- 1

Itis another object of the invention to providemold-printing apparatusof *the chara'cteriirsetx forth in which the dies are 'mountediforr-move sment inaunison with a frame-supported endlessa belt: meansand wherein the:zdiesnare' iadvanced into and removed from engagementtvvithzrtray beds by: improved frame-"carried: cam meansf whichcooperate with the dies to produce positive andacontrolled'*movementthereof 'towardziand. away from i associated :mold trays'.-

other-fobjectsof the invention are to: provide}: a continuous'mold-printing apparatus: in which? belt ca-rried printing-dies are'moved into andzout' of: engagement with :the beds of associated moldsthrough the action of reversely :dis'posed frame-1 carried cam devices;to provide cam devices which cooperate with :wedge. 'ielements formed5011'" the 1- ends of spring pressed dieeca-rrying bars or strips;- the:arrangementa'beingsuch that as the die bars" or strips are advancedlongitudinally" in unison with the associated molds bythe 'operati'omofa supporting endless chainor belt; the engagement of the wedge elementson said bars with the cam devices producing'easy, positive and non-jarring I movement of the die elements of saidbars'bothr into and out ofthe impressionable material con tained in'the molds; to provideapparatus of this. charactenwhich the wedge elements are carried by ,thedie elementesuppoIting-bars are disposed j in pairs at-each end of eachof said bars,.thewedge elements presenting. reversely .incl-inedsurfaces which conform toethecinclinationeof the asso-.- citedeontactingl surfaeessof the I stationary cam. devices employed :in.impartingzmold bed ipene-r trating movement to the die elements andtoprovide mold printing apparatus for the productionofwconfectionery;articleswvherein saidiapparatuspa;

3 possesses a higher capacity for producing finished molds than priorapparatus of this nature.

For a further understanding of the invention, reference is to be had tothe following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevational view, partly in vertical longitudinalsection, of a continuous moldprinting machine formed in accordance withthe present invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the machine on theplane indicated byv the line 22 of Fig. l and disclosing moreparticularly the arrangement of the laterally off-set cam rails and thecooperative wedge elements of the die bars of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 ofFig. 1;- a

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view showing one of the die bars andwedge elements carried at each end thereof.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there has been disclosed atI a frame structure which, in this instance, comprises rigidlyconnected, vertically extending and transversely spaced side members 2and a horizontally and longitudinally extending table 3, the latterbeing arranged between the side member 2. The upper surface of the table3 is provided with transversely spaced longitudinally extending guidestrips 4 which, in association with the table, provide a longitudinallydisposed guideway for the reception and longitudinal advance of aplurality of open-topped mold trays 5.

The bottom of each of these mold trays, contiguous to the ends of eachtray, i provided with uniformly spaced transversely extending cleats 6.These cleats are disposed for engagement with dogs 1 which are carriedby and. disposed in uniformly spaced longitudinal order on a pair ofdrive chains 8, the latter passing around sprockets 9 fixed upontransversely extending frame-journaled'shafts ill. One of the shafts maybe'provided, as shown, with a pulley l I, by means of which rotatingpower is imparted to the shafts in driving the chains 8. The sprocketsand chains are disposed in vertical registry with longitudinallydisposed'slots I2 formed in the table 3. The spacing of the dogs I issuch that the same engage with the rear surfaces of the forwardlydisposed cleats 6 of each mold'tray, whereby when power is imparted tothe chains 8, the engagement of the dogs I with the cleats 6 will causelongitudinal advance 'of the trays along the guideway G providedlongitudinally forsaid trays by the frame structure. The direction ofadvance of the trays along said guideway is indicated by the arrow b, asshown in'Fig. 1.

The trays each include relatively shallow, rectangular flat bottomdevices, the same being formed with short upstanding marginal Walls l3which produce in the trays shallow compartments or chambersadapted forthe reception of a finely divided powdered orpulverulent material, suchas starch, or other farinaceous substances. With the trays filled withstarch or the like, as shown in Fig. 1, and advancing along the guidewayG, the apparatus of the present invention provides printing mechanismadapted for producing in the mold beds, indicated at S, a plurality ofcavities shown at C. In these cavitie candy-forming material in a fluidor formative state may be introduced for the molding of candy articlesof desired configuration.

This printing mechanism, which is indicated in its entirety bythe'letter P, comprises in a pre- 4 ferred embodiment a pair ofhorizontally and transversely extending, longitudinally spaced shafts M,the latter being suitably journaled for rotation in bearings l5 carriedby the side mem bers 2. In this instance one of the shafts it, as shownin Fig. 3, is equipped at one end with a sprocket or its equivalent it,by means of which power applied to the sprocket may be used to effectrotation of the shafts l4 and the endless belt mechanism associatedtherewith.

, Each of the shafts is is equipped with a pair of sprockets it whichare arranged within the confines of the side members 2. Passing aroundthe teeth of the sprockets 18 are a pair of vertically situated,transversely spaced, endless chains or belts Hi. In this instance thechains or belts have been shown as being of the link type, and each pairof transversely registering links suicably joined therewith the ends ofa transversely extending die-carrying strip 2c. The pintle pins 2i,'used inarticulately uniting the ends of the links comprising the chains[9, are preferably extended, as shown in Fig. 3, in order to have theirouter extended ends equipped with rollers 22, the latter being adaptedto ride on horizontally disposed guide angles 23 which are stationarilypositioned on the frame structure l.

Each of the strips 2|] is formed with a pair of longitudinally spacedopenings disposed in registry with opening formed in bearing sleeves 24mounted on each strip. Slidably positioned in these openings are stems25 carried by hub 26 which are mounted on and project rigidly from theintermediate portions of a plurality of diecarrying bars 21.v.Thesleeves 24 constitute seats for the reception of coil springs 23,the latter surrounding the stems 25 and contact with nut-held members,29 threaded on the outer ends of the stems 25. The springs tend toexpand until the ends of the hubs 26 contact with the strips 2? asshownat the top of Fig. 3, thereby maintaining the strips 20 and thebars 2? in spaced parallel order. Each of the-bars 2! is provided with adie 39 which includes a plurality of cavity-forming projections 3 l..

. In order tomove the projections 35 of the dies 30 intocavity-producing engagement with the bed S of each of the molding traysa the latter move in unison with the printing dies, each of the strips2'! has formed at each end thereof a pair of oppositely disposed innerand outer wedge elements 32 and 33; respectively. Each of these elementsis formed with a surface disposed in a plane angular to that of the barsurface on which thewedge elements are formed.

These wedge elements are shaped and positioned for engagement withstationary cam rails 34 which are carried by and form a part of theframe structure. -As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the cam rails which arearranged-on each side of the frame structure, are positioned inreversely extending oppositely disposed order. The forward cam rail,indicated at 34c, has its bottom surface 34?) inclined downwardly andrearwardly from the thin forward end 340 thereof to the fiat andthickened rear edge 34d. The companion cam rail 346 at each side of theframe ha its lower surface 34f disposed to extend in an angularupwarddirection from the thickened fiat forward end34g thereoftowardtherelatively thin rear edge34h.

By reference to Fig. 2, it will be noted that the rail 34a at each sideof the frame is disposed closely adjacent the side member 2, whereas thesmears:

cam rails' 34wwill' be disposed above and in vertical registry with theouter wedge elements 33 of the bars 21.

Theinclination'of the surfaces of the'wedg'e elements 33- correspondswith the surfaces 34b of th'e'cam ransom the outer surfaces of thewedge-elements '32 corresponds with the inclination of the surfaces 347of the cam rails" 3 46;

In the operation of the machine; as the starch Likewise, the inclinationof ZJFApparatusz fore roduc'ing :confectiomformingimoldsg compsmg::ta:frame tstru'ctureipro vided iivith a longitudinally extendingguideway formed fon the reception: of a pluralityof fiat,

' shallow} open-topped mold' traysy each of said trays 7 containing- -abed of Ia i powdered m'aterial adaptedfor the formation ofconfection-molding cavities therein,="means 'forproducing sustaineduninterrupted longitudinal movement of said' trays in' adj 'a'ce'ntord'en along said guideway, continuously operating printe'r==mechanismcarried by said frame structure and 'disposediabove the trayspositioned "em-the guideway, said printer mechanism includingan endl'essbel-t supported bysaid frame structure, 'said 'bel-t having a lower. 6

run'mevable' longitudinally-"of and inparallel adjoiningrelationshipwithsaid-guideways and the filled mold trays move along the guideway Gof the frame structure "into registry with the upwardlydisposedprinting. mechanism P, the printing dies supported by the lowerrun of the conveyor belt l9 ar firstjby the action of the wedge-shapedcam-rai-lsM'd, forced downwardly and outwardly against the resistanceofieredby their coil springs 28. This operation causes the dieprojections 3t to-enter the-starch bed contained-in the moldtray, asshown inFig. 3, thereby producingthe-cavitiesC in said bed. When thecavities are fully formedthe die projections 3% are gradually releasedfrom contact with the moldbeds by theengagement of the wedge elements 32with the surfaces 341* of the rails 34s. This result is accomplished ina manner avoiding any undue jarring or vibratingon the part of the moldtrays, so that therewill be no undesired or imperfect formationsproduced in the die-formed shapes of the mold cavities. The arrangementof the rails 34b and 34e is such that the wedge elements 32 and 33 arein joint contact therewith as said wedge elements pass from engagementfrom one set of said cam rails to the next. This construction avoids theabrupt or sudden removal of the dies from engagement with the mold beds,as in the construction set forth in my above identified co-pendingapplication, thereby resulting in the formation of more perfectlydeveloped mold cavities.

I claim:

1. Printing mechanism for producing molding cavities in the beds ofmolds utilized in producing articles of confection comprising: a framestructure having a longitudinal guideway, means for advancing aplurality of molds in longitudinally aligned closely succeeding orderalong said guideway, endless belt means arranged above said guideway,printing dies carried by said belt means in longitudinally spacedpositions thereon for registry with the molds on said guideway, meanscarried by said belt means supporting said dies in connection therewithfor movement in. directions generally perpendicular to the plane ofmovement of the belt means, spring means retaining said dies inwithdrawn non-printing positions in connection with the supporting meansthereof, and relatively stationary cam devices carried by said framestructure and cooperative with said die-supporting means to produceperpendicular movement of said dies and in opposition to the forcesexerted by the spring means when the dies are broughtinto printingregistry with the molds on said guideway, said cam means includingreversely disposed inclined surfaces engageable with said die-supportingmeans to produce gradual movement of the dies when traveling into andout of cavity-producing engagement with molds supported on saidguideway.

-valsymeans supporting said dies-forsliding move-- mold trays disposedthereonyprinting dies carried bysaid endless belt at spaced longitudinalinterment in connection with said belt perpendicularly thereofand'toward and away' -from the beds ofsai'd' trays when said dies arebrought into registry therewith, spring means cooperative with*said'dies to maintain the same normally in withdrawn non+printingposition with respect to said trays cam"means stationarily "carried bysaid frame structure and cooperativewith said die-" supportingmeans toproduce movement of said dies against the'opposition of said springmeans and into'and out of engagement with the beds of said trays whilesaid 'dies'andtrays are traveling in relative registryandWith the "lowerrun of said belt' longitudinally "of said guideway, said cam meanshaving reversely disposed inclined surfaces arranged longitudinally ofsaid guideway, and wedge elements carried by said die-supporting meansarranged to engage said cam means in a. manner causing the dies to bebrought gradually into cavity-printing engagement with the moldingmaterial of said trays and gradually removed therefrom while the diesare traveling in cavity-forming unison with the mold trays.

3. Printing mechanism for producing cavities in moldable beds ofconfection-forming mold trays, comprising: a supporting structure havinga longitudinal guideway, a plurality of flat shallow mold trayspositioned in train-forming order on said guideway and movable in unisonlongitudinally thereof, each of said trays being formed with anopen-topped chamber for the reception of a body of animpression-receiving molding material, an endless longitudinallyextending belt means carried by said supporting structure and having alower run positioned above and in spaced parallel relation to saidguideway and the trays positioned thereon, said lower run being movablein the same direction and at the same linear speed as said trays, aplurality of transversely extending die-supportings bars formed withbearing sleeves, transversely extending die-carrying strips providedwith stems slidably mounted in the bearing sleeves of said bars, springmeans cooperative with said bars and stems and operative to apply forcesto said strips in positions removed from printing contact with moldingmaterial present in the associated trays, a pair of transversely spaced,oppositely facing, stationary cams carried by said supporting structureand extending longitudinally thereof on each side of said guidewaythroughout substantially the full length of the lower run of said belt,said cams being formed to present reversely inclined surfaces, and apair of cooperative, reversely inclined wedge elements carried by eachend of each of said strips, said wedge elements contacting the inclinedsurfaces of said cams to move the stripcarried dies into fullcavity-printing contact and formation with said moldable tray materialin a manner effecting gradual movement of the dies into and out of saidmold material in the formation of the cavities therein while the moldtrays are moving in unison with the lower run of said belt means.

4. In a continuous press for producing cavities in candy-forming molds,said press being of the type having a frame structure formed with alongitudinally extending guideway for the slidable reception of aplurality of shallow, flat, open-topped mold trays containingpressureplaceable molding material: means for advancing said trayswithout interruption and at a predetermined rate of linear travel alongsaid guideway, a pair of parallel sprocket-carrying shafts journaled forrotation in connection with said frame structure above said guideway, apair of transversely spaced, parallel, longitudinally extending, endlesschains trained around the sprockets of said shafts, longitudinallyspaced, transversely extending bars secured at their ends to said chain,said bars being formed with hearing sleeves, die-carrying stripsprovided with stems slidably mounted in the bearing sleeves of saidbars, spring means cooperative with said bars and stems and serving toapply forces to said strips which normally maintain the printing dies ofsaid strips in positions removed from printing contact with the moldingmaterial present in the associated trays, elongated stationary cammembers carried by said frame structure and disposed above the molds onsaid guideway, there being two of said cam members at each side of saidguideway and which are disposed in transversely 01T- set relationshipwith respect to each other, having reversely inclined surfaces, and apair of wedge elements mounted at each end of said diecarried stripsdisposed for registry with the pairs of cam members arranged at eachside of said guideway for selective engagement therewith, relativeengagement between said cam members and Wedge elements serving to movesaid die strips gradually against the resistance of said spring meansinto and out of cavity-printing contact with the molding material ofsaid tray during longitudinal advance of the printing dies in registrywith said trays.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 724,588 Koneman Apr. 7, 1903 805,702 7 Baggaley Nov. 2-8, 1905844,911 Baroody Feb. 19, 1907 1,015,790 Dern Jan. 30, 1912 1,781,345Sauy et a1 Nov. 11, 1930 1,839,050 Ponisch Dec. 29, 1931 1,967,565Thurlings July 2 1, 1934 2,023,291 Roth Dec. 3, 1935 2,214,191 Batchellet al Sept. 10, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 152,101 GreatBritain 1- Oct. 4, 1920

